Adjustable wrench



Jam 2, '9231 EAS opa. Ensmom.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH. Fl LED Dac. 27. 1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4Q! l? [2 E@ [g4 WEEEEEE A if@ 153g Patented dan., 22? T923 ofrro n. nnss-nora,

03F CARY, ILLNOIS.

ADJUSTABLE T'EJENCE lil. linsrnoti', a ri i and resident olf Cary, in the county of liilclflenry and nitrate ot lllinois, have invented certain new and useful linprcvenients in injusta-ble lllrench; and l do hereby declare that the following is a toll? clear?, and enact iption of the sainea reference being had to the accompanying dra nga and to the numerals ot reference arlred thereon? which .torni a part or this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to an i n'oved type ot an adjustable Wrench wherein a spring iiupelled slidablc jaw is adapted to rornovaliily locked in an adjusted position by an adjustable latch.

lt is an object of this ivention to jirovide a Wrench the adjustable aw oit which is adapted to be looked in a set position against accidental movement with respect to the handle jaw.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide an adjustable Wrench the adjustable jaiv ot Which is adapted to be locked with respect to the stationary javi.' by a slidably adjustable latch bolt.

lt is also an object ot the invention to construct a Wrench the slidable jaw of? which is adapted to be automatically moved into clamping position, by a spring mechanism` disposed therein.

lt is a further object ot this invention to provide a wrench wherein a spring controlled adjustable jaiv is adapted to be locked in an adjusted position by a manually adjustable 4toothed latch which is adapted to be moved into position to lock with rack teeth Yformed on the adjustable avv.

lt is i"iurth nn'iore an object ot the inven tion to construct a Wrench the handle or stationary jaiv o which is provided wwith an adjustable latch 'for the purpose of holding an adjustable avv locked against movement with respect to the handle.

lt is another object of the invention to construct a Wrench wherein a clevised stationary jaw head and a clevised adjustable jaiv head have toothed javi' members secured therein.

lt is an important object ot this invention to provide a Wrench ot sinijnle and etfective construction the movable of which is provided with a spring for automatically holding the saine in contact with a stationaryTv jaw When a latch in said stai tionary jaw is in retracted position out ot' locking engagement vi'ith 'the adjustable 41 ther and turther important objects of this invention vrill be apparent troni theudisc'lo# snres inthe specification and the accompanying drawings. j

The invention (in a preferred forni) is .illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter incre 'hilly described.

@n the drawings:

Figure l is aside elevation of a wrench embodying the principles of this invention and showing the operation of the adjustable javv in dotted lines. n

Figure 2 if section view taken on lin-e 2-2 ot Figure l.

Figure 3 is a section taken line 3'--3 0i llifrure l.

Fir. 1re t is a section. taken on line ic-d of .Figure l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary det-ail section tagen on line 595 oikligure 1.

Figure 6 is a section taken on lin`e'6-6 of Figure 2 showing parts in elevation. I

Figure 7 is an enlarged 'fragmentary side elevation of the Wrench showing the adustment of the latch in dotted lines.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified :torni of Wrench.

gare 9 is a front view thereof. j

Figure lOis a section taken on line 10-10 ot Figure 9. j

Figure ll is an enlarged detail section taken on line ll-ll oit Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings: A n y 'lhe referencey numeral indicates .a Wrench lever or l'iandle having integrally torrned on one end thereof an enlarged head 2 on the outer end ot which a main or stationary javv 3 is integrally formed. The upper front portion of the Wrench head 2 is cle'vised at 6 ivhile the lower portion of said head to the inside ot' the stationary javvv 3 is provided with a slot 4t. falso provided in the Wrench head 2 is a latch recess 5 which communicates with the slot 4. j

Slidably disposed Within the recess 5 is a loclfiinlf bolt or latch bar provided with a transverse dove-tail slot 8. The head 2 is provided with an openingflinone side thereot to permit the'latch 7', to be inserted in place. rlhe openingl) is closed by means of a plate 10 which is'secu'red in place 'by screws or other lsuitable rneans.` rllhe plate 1 0 has'a slot ll therein which is disposed at an; angle with respect to thelatch slot 8. Engaged Y plate slot 11.

'-eoaot with the stationary wrench' jaw 3 to vclose a out a'way portion thereoi". A slot The slot f1 in the wrench head 2 is disposed at an anglewith respect to the latch recess 5. Slidably projecting through. the slot 1 and between the clevis plates 16 of the wrench'head is the shank orA stern 17 of a movable wrench jaw 18 which is adapted to The` inner longitudinal edge ot the shanl; 17 is' formed to afford a rack 19 the teeth of which are adapted to be engaged by `teeth 20 `formed on the outer inclined end ci' the lockinglatch 7 The jaw shank 17`is provided with a longitudinal slot 21 having a coiled control spring22 engaged therein. A stop pin or screw 23 is secured transversely in the wrench head plates 16 and projects through the slot 21 of the jaw shank 17. One end oi the spring 22 seats against the pin 28 while the other end of said spring seats in the 'lower end of the slot 21. The spring 22 normally actsto move the shank 17 and the movable jaw 18 toward the stationary jaw 'The clamping surfaces of the jaws Sand 18 are shown parallel to each other. v The jaw clamping faces need notbe parallel and it desired may be toothed or knurled.

Figures 8 to 11 inclusive illustrate a modilied form of wrench adapted primarily for use on pipes. rlhis form of the device comprises a lever or handle 24 having a head 25 integrally formed on one end thereof. A projection 26 is formed on the head and provided lwith a recess 27 disposed ,at an angle to a slot 28V provided inthe wrench head 25. Slidably engaged in the recess 27 1s avl locking latch 29 provided with a trans verse slot 30 and with teeth. 81 on the outer end thereof. The latch 39 is adapted to he operated by a push button 32 similar to the arrangements disclosed in kFigures 1 to 7. A plate 33 is-secured to the head projection 26 34 i s provided in the plate 38 through which avpin 35 projects. vThe pin 35 is secured to the push button 32 and has a dovo-tail block engaged on the inner end thereof. The block 1s slidable in the latch slot 80.

A clevised projection 36 is integrally formed on the wrench head 25, and rigidly securedin said clevised projection by pins or rivets 37 is a stationary wrench jaw provided with an inclined clamping surface notched to afford outwardly directed clamp-q ing teeth 39.

lidable inthe wrench slotf28 is a shank 10- having a head 4-1 formed on they outer end a coiled spring 47 engaged therein. screw or stop pin 18 is secured transverseiv in the wrench head and projects through the slot L1G to be engaged by one end ot the spring 17.

lhe operation is as follows Referrinoto the form et wrench,ill-ustrated in llgures 1 to 7 inclusive, ne spring 22. normally acts to holdthe movable jaw 18 toward the stationary jaw 3. o engage arnut the Vwrench is held by the handle 1 and the thumb of the hand holding the wrench vis pressed. against the end vot the shank 17 to slide the shanlr through the wrench head 2 'thereby moving the moi'fahle jaw 18 away from the stationary .jaw

against the action oit the spring 22 which .is compressed. YDuring the alcovev oj'ieration the latch 7 is in its retracted position; The movable aw is moved outwardlyv a distance su'liicient to' permit the two jaws to engage a nut. When thishas been accomplished the thumb is removed from the shank. As this is done the compressed spring 22 acts automat ically to move the movable rjaw 18 inwardly thereby causing the nut to Ahe clamped between the wrench jaws. The push lnittoo 111 is now moved causing the pin 18 to slider thedovetail block 12 in the groove 8 ot' the latch 7. ISince the slot 11 and the groove 8 are disposedA at an angle with respect to one another the latch lis forced outwardy to move the toothed end thereotinto lo( dus; engagement with the teeth oi the .shank rack 19.

lt will thus-be noted that'the moval-ilo jaw j ed thereby. Attention is directed to the .tact that the improved wrench is a one hand wrench and that the saine mayY be conveniently operated without bringing into action both'ha'nds ot an operator.

After the nut has been tightened or loosiened as the case may 'be the push button 141 is slid back into the normal release position shown in Figure 1. llVhen this is done the latch is retracted outvo'l' engagement with the shank 17 therebypermitting the spring 22 to act automatically to draw the movab jaw 18 'from the dotted line position of ,Fig ure 1 bac-lr into the normal tull line position.

In the modified ttorrn of pipe-wrenchdisclosed in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive'the one hand wrench is adjusted to engage a pipe by first .retracting the latch 29 and then The pipe is -ifieoei lettino I A antomati teeth oi the n, 1 gai-.v ein and lhe L] ,o in LA] 1', L J dr ALG ellis infonie@ lil Dil] ilntti @Gmlgarticnlar attenl directelil to the movable d3 Whic einovably secured in the clevised heed 4l oil' the shanl; The gripping tace ot the jaw A is curved or arc shaped an'l is provided li inwardlyv dihis novel construction Qrovidecl. Lor specific purposeu The Wrench is adapted te opera ed by turn. a pipe. llllith tno Wrench iaws enoii the pipe as already described the wrench handle 2li used as a pulled toward the operator.. This movement of the Wrench causes the inwardly directed teeth i5 of the movable jaw i8 to tightly grip against the sii-tace oit the pipe and at the time the ontvv'dly directed teeth 39 of the stationary jaw 38 also grip the pipe to preventslippagre of tne Wrench on said pipe. hns permitt l to be turned. To obtain a new hold on the pipe the one hand Wrench handle 2e; is swans' in an opposite direction awa-jv trom the operator. rlhe aw teeth being' directe as described do not grip the pipe but snde thereon until the new prsition is reached. The Wrench landle @fl is again pulled toward the operator and the teeth on the arc shaped grip- Bing; surface oil' the movable jaw 53, and die teeth 39 on the inclined gripping snrtace of the stationary jaw again grip the pipe srace to permit the pipe to be turned.

rlhe jaws 38 and 'when s ifilciently Worn may be removed i'rom the 'Wrench and replaced by new jaws, thereby permitting reuse oi? the remaining; nf'rench parts.

l anA aware variete details ot construction mag"f be varied through a Wide angie Without departing 'trom the principles oit this invention, and l therefore do not imiting the patent ,granted other- .e than necessitated by the jorioi` e n/ v 1." shank, resilient deans in saioL shann adapted toA draw the movable jaw toward said a toothed latch adjnstablg,r

stationary jaw,

head, and means projecting disposed in sale "the movable ja 'end recess th into slid `e with resgiect there toothed latch int-o sait" l othed shank to `nold engagement with in predetermined position.

2- one hand Wrench comprising a hanfue bead toi-med thereon having a slot ercin. a stationary jan? 'fm-med on 'head y movable jaw adjinstably en-` gaged slot. spring in aid movable into loc ing engagement with said movable y to hold the same locked in a set position.

3. El. Wrench embracing a handle, a head `formed thereon having an intersecting slot and recess therein, a jaw integrallj,T termed on said head, a movable jaw, a shank termed thereon and slidably engaged in said slot, said shank having a slot therein, a stop pin supported saidy head and projecting through the shank slot, a spring in said shank slot having one end engaged against said stop pin, said spring adapted to dravv said movable awtovvard said head jaw, a. rack termed on said shank, a slotted latch adjnstably engaged in said recess, teeth formed thereon, a. slotted. plate secured to said head to close the recess, a member' slidably engaged in said slotted latch and projecting through said slotted plate, and a push button secured to the profecting` end of said member to permit actuation thereof to cause said latch to be projected. to move the latch teeth into engagement with said shank rack to hold the movable locked in a predetermined adjusted position against the action oit said spring.

d. ln a Wrench oi? the class described the combination With slidably interlitting jaw members, means in one of said jaw members tor automatically dran/vingthe same inwardly with respect to the other jaw member, a slidable locking means adjustable in said other jaw member, and slidable actuating means on said other jaw member connected with said locking means adapted to be .actuated to cause said loclrino" means to be moved into locking engagement with said lirst jaw member to hold the jaw members locked with respect to one another.

5. il Wrench comprising a handle, a stationary jaw thereon, a movable jaw slidably engaged in said handle, means in said movable jaw for drawing the same toward said stationary jaw, a latch slidably disposed in said handle, said latch havingn a groove therein, a vblockslidable in said groove, said `ifiandie having a siotthereinr disposed at an an le with resoect t0 said latchv ioove a [pin seemed? on" said block and projecting through said s1otand a: push `buttonon the,

projecting end of said pin, said pushbutton adapted to be actuated to cause said block to move the latch into vengagement with said movable jaw niemberto hold 'the same set in an adjusted action of said means. v

6. Awrench comprising a handle member,

position against the 'a devised piojeetion thereon, a-toothed jaw4 Witnesses:.

'removably sefcnred therein, ashank slidably engaged in said handle member, a devised scrihing Witnesses. I y

' i omo EDsTnoMj CHARLES W. HIVLLs, Jr., FRED FAES 

